With their present roster of players, the Super Eagles have little chance of winning the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, according to former international George Abbey.
The Eagles hope to win their fourth AFCON championship at the 34th edition, which will take place in Ivory Coast early in 2019. They previously won it in 1980 on their home turf, in 1994 in Tunisia, and in the 2013 finals in South Africa.
The three-time AFCON champions have subsequently adopted the war cry “Let’s Do It Again” in their pursuit of another AFCON championship, Ivory Coast.
Abbey, who played 18 times for the Eagles and was a member of the team that took bronze in Tunisia in 2004, disagreed with Jose Peseiro’s team, claiming that despite ending their 15-game winless streak in friendly matches, their recent performances have flattered to deceive.
Even having Vincent Enyeama in goal, the former Crewe Alexandra defender feels that the current Eagles team is not good enough to contend for the championship in Ivory Coast.
Francis Uzoho, who had been absent from the squad due to suspension for the previous match, caused howlers in the Eagles’ friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. As the AFCON competition draws near, the fans are worried about Uzoho’s performance.
“We are patriotic as a country, we forget to check the present weather forecast,” Abbey stated.
“This current team is not as strong as our 2013 squad and in my opinion that team overachieved based on the team they were up against.
“Even if we magically produce a prime Vincent Enyeama and put him behind this team, I still wouldn’t back us to win the AFCON. I hope they prove me wrong but I doubt they will.”
The three-time African champions are drawn against hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in the first round of the delayed 2023 AFCON in January 2024.